Big crimpin crimper

ABSTRACT

A portable crimping device for crimping around a peripheral edge of at least one sheet metal pipe is disclosed. The device comprises a housing having a top side, a bottom side, a left side plate and a right side plate, a plurality of gear means positioned between the top side and the bottom side, at least one adapter attached to one of the gear means and at least one axis bar attached to another one of the gear means. The peripheral edge to be crimped is inserted into a vertical opening on the bottom side. The one of the gear means spins in a clockwise direction and the other one of the gear means spins in a counterclockwise direction upon rotation of the adapter attached to a power drill. This spinning action of the gear means automatically drives the device onto and around the peripheral edge to form crimps.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/278,548 filed on Oct. 9, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to devices for crimping pipes. More specifically, the present invention relates to a portable crimping device incorporating a plurality of gears driven by a power drill for crimping around a peripheral edge of at least one sheet metal pipe.

2. Description of the Related Art

Lightweight sheet metal pipes are widely used in various commercial, industrial and residential applications such as Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning Units (HVAC) and ventilation ducts. In most cases a plurality of pipe sections must be joined together to extend across a long expanse. The common method of joining pipe sections is to crimp the circumferential edge at one end of a pipe section. The crimped end of one pipe section should fit snugly into an uncrimped opening of another pipe section. In this manner a plurality of similarly shaped pipe sections can be easily connected together in a series. Numerous devices have been devised for forming crimps or corrugations on the pipe sections.

Over the past decades, hand crimpers were used to crimp the sheet metal pipes. The user employs a hand plier style crimping tool which is difficult to operate manually. Having to manually crimp the sheet metal pipe involves a lot of time and manual labor. These crimpers often have extended handles utilized to achieve the necessary crimping force.

One of the most significant problems caused by hand crimpers includes hand, wrist and elbow muscular-skeletal disorders such as tendonitis due to the extreme hand and wrist postures and forceful and repetitive hand and wrist activities. Moreover, these crimpers are often difficult to use in a confined area or with a single hand operation.

Many attempts have been made to alleviate the hand and wrist problems such as the use of rotary crimpers, floor and table-mounted crimpers, hand-crank crimpers, electric drive crimpers and gear driven crimping devices. However, most of these devices are large, bulky equipment having hand-crank or motor-operated gears, requiring the device to be mounted on a workbench or another piece of equipment. Further, these devices are relatively expensive and often inefficient and difficult to use for specific applications.

Another approach to deal with the issue is the use of custom fabricated couplers to connect adjoining sections of the sheet metal pipe together. While these couplers serve the intended purpose, they are expensive to produce and involve a time-consuming and labor-intensive operation.

Hence, it can be seen, that there is a need for a portable crimping device incorporating a plurality of gears driven by a power drill for crimping around a peripheral edge of at least one sheet metal pipe. Such a needed device would eliminate manual operations and consume less time. Further, the needed device would be compact and light-weight to allow for a single hand operation in cramped quarters. This needed device would be inexpensive, easy-to-use and less fatiguing for the user, resulting in far fewer hand, wrist, and elbow injuries.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To minimize the limitations found in the prior art, and to minimize other limitations that will be apparent upon the reading of the specifications, the present invention provides a portable crimping device for crimping around a peripheral edge of at least one sheet metal pipe. The crimping device comprises a housing having a top side, a bottom side, a left side plate and a right side plate, a plurality of gear means positioned between the top side and the bottom side, at least one adapter detachably attached to one of the plurality of gear means and at least one axis bar detachably attached to another one of the plurality of gear means. The housing may further include at least one hole extending from the top side to the bottom side thereof. The plurality of gear means being in meshing engagement with each other may include an opening longitudinally aligned with the at least one hole. The bottom side of the housing may incorporate a vertical opening therein.

In use, the at least one adapter may be attached to a power drill. The peripheral edge of the at least one sheet metal pipe to be crimped is inserted into the vertical opening between the plurality of gear means. The at least one adapter rotates upon activation of the power drill thereby spinning the one of the plurality of gear means in a clockwise direction and the other one of the plurality of gear means in a counterclockwise direction. This spinning action of the plurality of gear means automatically drives the crimping device onto and around the peripheral edge to form crimps.

One objective of the invention is to provide a crimping device incorporating a plurality of gears driven by a power drill for crimping around a peripheral edge of at least one sheet metal pipe in order to join with an equally sized sheet metal pipe.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a completely portable and mobile crimping device utilized for crimping at least one sheet metal pipe installed in the ceiling and floor.

A third objective of the invention is to provide a crimping device which eliminates manual operation and consumes less time.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a compact, sturdy and lightweight crimping device which allows for single hand operation.

Yet another objective of the invention is to provide a crimping device that is inexpensive to produce and easy-to-use.

These and other advantages and features of the present invention are described with specificity so as to make the present invention understandable to one of ordinary skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Elements in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale in order to enhance their clarity and improve understanding of these various elements and embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, elements that are known to be common and well understood to those in the industry are not depicted in order to provide a clear view of the various embodiments of the invention, thus the drawings are generalized in form in the interest of clarity and conciseness.

FIG. 1 is a side view of the present invention, illustrating a portable crimping device for crimping around a peripheral edge of at least one sheet metal pipe;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the present invention, illustrating a housing, a left side plate, a right side plate, a plurality of gear means, at least one adapter, at least one axis bar attached to one of the plurality of gear means, at least one fastener, at least one bushing and at least one fastening means;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the housing of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the present invention;

FIG. 6 a is a side view of the present invention, illustrating the left side plate detachably attached to the housing;

FIG. 6 b is a side view of the present invention, illustrating the right side plate detachably attached to the housing; and

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the present invention, illustrating a vertical opening on the bottom side of the housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following discussion that addresses a number of embodiments and applications of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part of hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. However, any single inventive feature may not address any of the problems discussed above or only address one of the problems discussed above. Further, one or more of the problems discussed above may not be fully addressed by any of the features described below.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a portable crimping device 10 for crimping around a peripheral edge of at least one sheet metal pipe (not shown). The crimping device 10 comprises a housing 11 having a top side 12, a bottom side 13, a left side plate 14 and a right side plate 15, a plurality of gear means (not shown), at least one adapter 16 and at least one axis bar (not shown). The left side plate 14 and the right side plate 15 may be detachably attached to the housing 11 by means of at least one fastening means 17. The bottom side 13 may incorporate a vertical opening 18 therein.

The housing 11 may further include at least one hole 19 extending from the top side 12 to the bottom side 13 thereof as shown in FIG. 2. The plurality of gear means 20 and 21 having an opening 22 may be positioned between the top side 12 and the bottom side 13. The plurality of gear means 20 and 21 may be properly spaced to form a meshing engagement with each other. The at least one adapter 16 may be detachably attached to one of the plurality of gear means 20 by means of at least one fastener 23. The at least one axis bar 24 may be detachably attached to another one of the plurality of gear means 21 by way of the at least one fastener 23. The at least one fastener 23 may be a set screw. The attachment may be secured by means of at least one bushing 25. The one of the plurality of gear means 20 spins in a clockwise direction and the another one of the plurality of gear means 21 spins in a counterclockwise direction upon rotation of the at least one adapter 16 when attached with a power drill (not shown) thereby causing the crimping action.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the housing 11 of the present invention. The housing 11 may be made of aluminum. The at least one hole 19 may be dimensioned to fit the plurality of gear means 20 and 21. The opening of the plurality of gear means 22 may be longitudinally aligned with the at least one hole 19 when the plurality of gear means 20 and 21 is encased within the housing 11. The plurality of gear means 20 and 21 may be identical in size and shape. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the present invention. The housing 11 may be enclosed by detachably attaching the left side plate 14 and the right side plate 15.

The at least one adapter 16 may be inserted through the at least one hole 19 into the one of the plurality of gear means 20 and attached using the at least one fastener 23. Similarly, the at least one axis bar 24 may be inserted through the at least one hole 19 into the another one of the plurality of gear means 21 and attached using the at least one fastener 23. As shown in FIG. 5, the at least one adapter 16 and the at least one axis bar 24 may form a secure fit with the plurality of gear means 20 and 21 by means of the at least one bushing 25. The at least one adapter 16 may be configured to be inserted into the power drill (not shown).

FIG. 6 a illustrates the left side plate 14 detachably attached to the housing 11 and FIG. 6 b illustrates the right side plate 15 detachably attached to the housing 11. The at least one fastening means 17 may be used to secure the left side plate 14 and the right side plate 15 to the housing. The at least one fastening means 17 may be a screw.

In use, the at least one adapter 16 may be attached to the power drill (not shown). The peripheral edge of the at least one sheet metal pipe (not shown) to be crimped is inserted into the vertical opening 18 between the plurality of gear means 20 and 21 as shown in FIG. 7. The vertical opening 18 may be precisely sized to fit perfectly on the peripheral edge (not shown). The at least one adapter 16 rotates upon activation of the power drill (not shown) thereby spinning the one of the plurality of gear means 20 in a clockwise direction and the another one of the plurality of gear means 21 in a counterclockwise direction. This spinning action of the plurality of gear means 20 and 21 automatically drives the crimping device 10 onto and around the peripheral edge (not shown) to form crimps. The desired depth of the crimp is achieved by perfectly guiding the crimping device 10 over the peripheral edge (not shown). The spacing between the plurality of gear means 20 and 21 and the perfect size of the vertical opening 18 is utilized as a means of guiding the crimping device 10.

The lightweight and sturdy design of the crimping device 10 helps a user (not shown) to effortlessly guide the device 10 into the peripheral edge of the at least one sheet metal pipe (not shown). The crimping device 10 can be used to crimp a number of different pipes such as drier vents for laundry driers, exhaust pipes for bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans, supply and return air heating and air conditioning ducts. The device 10 is applicable mainly in Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning Units (HVAC) for preparing a connection between two identical sheet metal pipes. The present invention is designed to be completely portable and mobile.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been presented for the purpose of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is intended that the scope of the present invention not be limited by this detailed description, but by the claims and the equivalents to the claims appended hereto. 

1. A portable crimping device for crimping around a peripheral edge of at least one sheet metal pipe comprising: a housing having a top side, a bottom side, a left side plate, a right side plate and at least one hole extending from the top side to the bottom side thereof, the bottom side incorporating a vertical opening therein; a plurality of gear means having an opening positioned between the top side and the bottom side, the gear means being in meshing engagement with each other, the opening being longitudinally aligned with the at least one hole; at least one adapter detachably attached to one of the plurality of gear means by means of at least one fastener; and at least one axis bar detachably attached to another one of the plurality of gear means by way of the at least one fastener; whereby the one of the plurality of gear means spins in a clockwise direction and the another one of the plurality of gear means spins in a counterclockwise direction upon rotation of the at least one adapter when attached with a power drill thereby causing the crimping action.
 2. The portable crimping device of claim 1 wherein the left side plate and the right side plate may be detachably attached to the housing by means of at least one fastening means.
 3. The portable crimping device of claim 2 wherein the at least one fastening means may be a screw.
 4. The portable crimping device of claim 1 wherein the at least one hole may be dimensioned to fit the plurality of gear means.
 5. The portable crimping device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of gear means may be provided with at least one bushing to form a secure fit with the at least one adapter and the at least one axis bar.
 6. The portable crimping device of claim 1 wherein the at least one fastener may be a set screws.
 7. The portable crimping device of claim 1 wherein the peripheral edge of the at least one sheet metal pipe to be crimped may be inserted into the vertical opening.
 8. The portable crimping device of claim 1 wherein the vertical opening may be precisely sized to fit perfectly on the peripheral edge.
 9. The portable crimping device of claim 1 wherein the housing may be made of aluminum.
 10. A method of crimping around a peripheral edge of at least one sheet metal pipe employing a portable crimping device, comprising the steps of: providing the portable crimping device comprising a housing enclosing a plurality of gear means, at least one adapter attached to one of the plurality of gear means and at least one axis bar attached to another one of the plurality of gear means; attaching a power drill to the at least one adapter; inserting the peripheral edge of the at least one sheet metal pipe into a vertical opening on a bottom side of the housing; activating the power drill thereby spinning the one of the plurality of gear means in a clockwise direction and the another one of the plurality of gear means in a counterclockwise direction upon rotation of the at least one adapter; and crimping around the peripheral edge of the at least one sheet metal pipe.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the at least one adapter and the at least one axis bar may be detachably attached to the plurality of gear means by means of at least one fastener.
 12. The method of claim 10 wherein the plurality of gear means may be properly spaced to form a meshing engagement with each other.
 13. The method of claim 10 wherein the spinning action of the plurality of gear means automatically drives the crimping device onto and around the peripheral edge. 